Fruit-can wrench.



No. 70s,:49.

w. F. KERR.

FRUIT CAN wnsncu.

(Application filed Feb. 25, 1902.)

Patented Sept. 2, I902..

(No Model.)

A TEST INVENTDJT Mil/um? NE NORRIS PETERS 00.. mow-Lima. WASHINGTON, n.c.

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. KERR, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

FRUIT-CAN WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 708,149, datedSeptember 2, 1902. Application filed February 25, 1902. Serial No.95,497- (No model.)

1'0 alt whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, YVILL'IAM F. KERR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit-Can Wrenches; andI do declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to fruit-can wrenches; and the object of theinvention is to provide a wrench for screwing the covers of fruit-canson and off without injury to the cover and with ease to the user, allsubstantially as shown and described, and particularlypointed out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a can-cover andof my new style of wrench in its first position in full lines and in itsgripped position in dotted lines to turn the cover on. Fig. 2 is aperspective view of the metallic loop, and Fig. 3 is a perspective Viewof the handle, which together constitute the invention. Figs. 4 and 5are edge views of one end of the loop or ring to which the handle is tobe attached. Fig. 4 shows said end as it appears when engaged, as inFig.1, and Fig. 5 shows it before engagement with the handle.

As thus shown, the entire wrench consists of two simple parts A and B.

A is a loop of substantially'band or ring shape, made, preferably, of asuitable strip of malleable iron, though brass or a like malleable metalor composition of metals may be used, provided that it has the requisiteflexibility and malleability for producing the article and for operatingwith a slight reflex spring, as this device does. Originally the saidloop or ring was straight and had any preferable shape in cross section;but as shown here it is rounded on the inner side to engage in thedepressions of the threads in the edge of the can-cover O and flat onits outer edge. It is further characterized by a head 2 at one end,having a lengthwise slot or opening 3, and with bifurcations or ears 4at the other end, having opposed lugs 5 on their inside. The saidbifurcations or ears with their lugs serve to make a firm and permanentpivot-bearing and connection for handle B through hole 6 therein, andthe connection is effected by simply clamping ears 4 together with lugs3 in hole 6, and the union is made. There is a springy quality in loop Awhen bent as shown; but this may be said to be only about enough torelease the loop from its grip on the cap when tension through lever Bis released, and hence I can press ears 4 together against the sides ofsaid lever and the lugs in hole 6, and they will remain there and workas effectually as if they were bolted in position. I might, in fact, usea bolt in lieu of said lugs; but they would add to expense and be nobetter practically. Handle B likewise is peculiar in this that it has asegmentally-curved shank 7, with hole 6 in its outer extremity andserrations or teeth or like engaging surface 8 on the heel of the saidshank near its end and where it bears against cover or top 0 of the canwhen used, as in Fig. 1.

In assemblingthe parts the shank 7 of the handle is entered through slot3 of loop A and brought into engagement with lugs 5 through hole 6, andthe article then is ready for use. Ring A being circular will pressuniformly entirely around the cover, and thus work no injury thereto atany point; but since I depend upon the spring of the metal to open thewrench the moment pressure is withdrawn by the handle relaxation occursand the wrench is free to lift off. If it should not relax of its ownaccord, a reverse movement of the handle would make it do so by engagingthe back of the curved shank against the in ner wall of slot 3.

It by holding the wrench and tightening it, as seen in Fig. 1, willserve to turn a cover into place, the reversal or inversion of thewrench, like turning it upside down, will serve to turn the cover looseand off.

The shape of the handle is not material, except in its shank portion,and loop A may be developed into any suitable shape from any suitablematerial, provided that it be constructed to make the connections and tooperate substantially as herein described.

I have referred to fruit-jars and covers alone; but obviously the use ofthe Wrench is not thus limited, and it may be used wherever it can bewithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

The convex or back edge of shank 7 is within the circle or ring A, andthe concave edge is outside, so that when used the heel of the shank,having serrations 8, becomes the fulcrum of the handle, and the slottedend of the loop bears on the outer curved edge of the shank, which isthe concave edge, and is tighteued, while it also slides more or lesstoward the fulcrum, Fig. 1. Thus also the shank of the handle is made tobridge the space between the ends of the loop.

What I claim is 1. A fruit-jar wrench consisting of a springinetal loophaving an elongated slot at one end and a handle having a curved shankloosely projected through said slot and slidable thereon and pivotallyengaged at its extremity with the opposite end of said loop, the saidshank having its convex portion on the inside in respect to the loop andprovided with ser- WILLIAM F. KERR.

\Vitnesses:

R. B. MOSER, T. M. MADDEN.

